Today the music industry mourns the loss of Reggie Osse, known as Combat Jack to listeners of his podcast and those who recall his editorial work at The Source. In October he revealed his battle against colorectal cancer, even updating concerned friends, family and fans throughout the process. Osse was only 48 years old.
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Another important piece of Hip-Hop’s puzzle gone too soon. Rest easy, Combat Jack.
Osse came into the industry as a music attorney for Jay-Z and later segued into music journalism as the managing editor for The Source. He started his wildly popular Combat Jack Show podcast in 2010 and has earned acclaim for his wide-ranging knowledge of Hip-Hop music in particular, and the entertainment industry in general.
His podcast became the archetype for Hip-Hop podcasts moving forward. Taxstone, N.O.R.E. and Joe Budden all owe a great deal to Osse. Budden transitioned to the Everyday Struggle on Youtube.
He also narrated Mogul: The Life and Death of Chris Lighty, a biographic account of the life of the late music executive. It was named New Yorkers best podcast of 2017.
